From J. J. Weir   [1–13] May 1869¹

My Dear Sir

I send by this days post a copy of a short paper on Insects and Insectivorous birds.— The results yet arrived at are meagre, but they point in one direction & support Wallaces theory on the subject.—²

I have recently twice visited the South Downs during the lambing season and was very much surprised to see how very far from being white the lambs were even when some weeks old.—³

The flocks were of the choicest character, one my Brother in Laws was in the farm just vacated by the late John Ellmans son & the rams used as sires were of great value, yet the lambs reminded one of Jacobs spotted & speckled, some had large patches of color all over the back, & the faces of many were mottled, & the ewes even were often black & white, yet so powerfully has selection acted entirely to produce a perfect adult, that all these would ultimately have white wool and light brown faces (the true South Down has never a black face).—⁴

I was much interested to find from a recent visitor there that in the remote Island of S^t. Kilda the sheep are still even in the adult state brown.—⁵

I may further remark when on the subject of sheep that this season, much below the average number of twin lambs have been produced, the Flock masters think that insufficient food last autumn was the cause.—

I endeavoured to ascertain whether any lambs were ever produced without tails but could hear of none.—

This I think remarkable because the sheep dogs which have had their tails amputated in a similar manner, are now commonly pupped tailless.—⁶

Believe me | My Dear Sir | Yours sincerely | J Jenner Weir

C Darwin Esq^r.